Display device



Dec. 22, 1931. c, wHlTMAN 1,837,387

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 6. 1929 Patented Dec. 22, 1931 ED (STATES fei= m.e

GHANNI'NG WHITMAN, on BUFFALO, NEW YORK, nssrenort mo; rLnxL-U -n 001mm TION, OFITON-ALWANDLA, NEW YORK-,-

A conroruirron on EW YORK DISPLAY DEVICE Application-nullSeptember 6,1929. Scria1 "1ll0.'3'90,779. i

This inventionrelates to improvements in display device'swhich are particularly intended'l'orindoor advertising purposes. v V

The principal object of the invention is to provide aseliacontaineddevice in the nature in-formative and unique.

of a sign forthe' advertisement of some specific product or some specific line of products and which shall be attractive, 'efiective,

- Theinventioncontemplates the utilization of a dummy body which inappearance is a replica of a particular article of manufacture to be advertised-0r which has such features of external form and' arrangement that it will rei'nsesei it such articleofmanuiacture or ofall the articlesor" a certain line of manufacture; according'to the invention the said dummy body is functionally available'as Working parts which from the standpoint of "good "advertising display, require conceal- .ment. The invention a l-so contemplates the combination with a dummy body having the characteristics above stated of a luminousdisplay part having its ends secured to and within saiddu'mmy body and in cooperation with said working parts and of a form to indicate graphically the identity, quality or cost of the article to be advertised or some other fact pertaining to said article. The luminous display part is arranged above but insuitably close proximity to said dummy body and is thus combined with the same in such relation and ux'taposition that its indication is immediately and necessarily associated in the mind of an observer with the article or line of articlesrepnsented bythe dummy body while its light also serves for the illumination of said body. The display part is more particularly electrically illuminated tube fashioned into such form as will provide the required indication, an electroluminescent tube such as a neon tubejbeing preferably employed because of its brilliance and attractiveness. r

The advertising value of "a replica of the article to be advertised or of a body symbolic of a line ofarticles and of a display tube, both considered separately water course, be readily appreciated. The combination constitut ing the invention has, however, in addition which i "a casing for a turer.

tothes'eparate advertising value of eachelesome specificthought or idea peculiarly appertaining 'to the product or line "of'prod uctslrepre'sentedby'thedummy body An; embodiment Fig re I'isa front elevajt'io' ;o dgvicfl Figure 2 is a centra1longitudijna1' e t of the same. 1 I a Figure 3 is across sectional view showing "an alternative-detail.

The 7 construction" selectedfor'" illustration is for the purpose of advertising rad-1'0 receiving setsa n'd includes a dummybody 1. If

itbe 'desired'to advertise a radio receiving setas aproduct of a pairticular manufacturer the body lwill be a replicabf the body or casing of the radio receiving set of such particular manufacturer; if it be desired to ad- 1 vertise radio receiving sets generally, with out regard to the1r source of manufacture, the

body 1 will havesuch external features of form and arrangement as will identify it generally as the casing of a radio receiving set, without necessarily having features peculiar to the product of any particular manufac- The body 1 is provided with aeover 2' having suitable apertures through which the terminalportions 4: of a luminous display tube 3 project. The; tube 3-is preferably a neontubeandis so illustrated; The body 1 is available as a casing for enclosing and concealing the worlzingparts with which the terminal portions 4 of'the display tube co-- operate and also such other Working parts as may be required for the operation of said tube. r Y

The terminal portions 4 of the display tube may, of course, be connected in any suitable manner to a: source'of energy. Preferably in efi'ec'ting the support and electrical connection of the display tube I utilize a construction which is described and claimed in the copending application or Wiley, ;Wiley and a mutual'cooperation in presenting of the-invention "'is'iflustrated in the I accompanying "drawings; in

Cudney, Serial No. 293,565. This construction includes a separate hollow insulator 5 for each end of the tube, each insulator being held against the inner face of the cover 2 and axially alined with the opening in the cover through which the corresponding end of the tube projects. Each insulator 5 carries at the end remote from the cover a power line terminal 6 which is adapted to engage the corresponding lead-in conductors 7 of the tube when the terminal 4 of the'tube is thrust through the cover opening into the interior of the insulator. The power line terminals 6 are connected to opposite sides of the secondary or high voltage side of a transformer 8, which is preferably mounted on the cover 2 so as to permit the cover to be moved between its open and closed positions without disturbing or moving the high voltage connections, thereby avoiding the liability of the breakage of these connections which is incurred when they are so moved. The primary or low voltage side of the transformer may be connected to power in any suitable manner; In the specific embodiment herein shown the switch 9 on the body 1, which is ordinarily utilized for connecting the radio set to power, may be and preferably is, utilized for the purpose of connecting the transformer primary to power.

The display tube 3 serves two functions; first, it effectively illuminates the body 1 as a replica of a particular product or as indicative of a line of products; second, it is a graphic indication of some particular fact relating to the product or line of products represented b the body 1, such indicated facts being, or example, of the identity, quality, or cost of the article. Thus the display tube may be formed to outline the name or trade-mark of a company engaged in the manufacture of radio sets, batteries, or other articles when such tube is arranged in the described combination with a body 1. The inferences necessarily drawn by the observer are that the article is manufactured by the company named or which owns the trademark and is sold on the premises where the advertising display is made. As a further example it may be that business conducted at such premises is that of repairing radio receiving sets. In such case the display tube may be formed to outline the words We repair. The inferences necessarily drawn by the observer in such a case from thecombination of the display tube with a body formed to symbolize a radio receiving set is that radio receiving sets are repaired by the proprietors of the establishment at which the advertising display is maintained. While the combination may be such that the display tube expresses a complete thought which is confirmed by the thing advertised and represented or symbolized by the body 1 the com bination is preferably such that the tube expresses either an incomplete thought which is completed inferentially by the thing advertised or a complete thought which is inferentially enlarged or emphasized by the thing advertised. In any case the body 1 adds to the representation made by the tube.

Being self-contained the device is readily portable and may be placed in any advantageous location or on any suitable counter or stand.

The luminous tube which provides the display part may be fitted or removed and may at any time be replaced by one having different reading but a similar arrangement of terminal portions.

The alternative detail shown in Figure 3 consists in mounting the receptacles and the transformer on a supporting board or panel 10 having openings registering with the receptacles. This panel may be secured to the cover of the body 1 in any suitable way, said cover being provided with openings registering with the openings in the panel. By virtue of this arrangement the luminous display tube and the associated Working parts mounted on the support 10 may be shipped in quantities by the producer thereof to a plant making radio receiving sets or other products to be advertised and at such plant the structure may be completed by fitting the panels to such bodies, represented by the body 1, as it may be desired to utilize. By this arrangement the display tube and the working parts are standardized so as to be available for use with varying models which the manufacturer may bring out from time to time.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In an advertising device the combination of a dummy body formed as a replica as to external features of the product to be advertised and available as a casing, said body having a hinged cover, of an electro-luminescent tube having terminal portions extend ing through said cover and into said body and a display part above said body to provide illumination for the same, the display part being fashioned to convey graphically a statement of a fact pertaining to the product represented by said body, receptacles secured to said cover and into which said terminal portions extend, said receptacles carrying power line terminals for connection to said terminal portions and a transformer also mounted on said cover and within said casing and to which said power line terminals are connected.

2. In an advertising device the combination with a dummy body formed as a replica as to external features of the product to be advertised and available as a casing, a cover for said body, said cover being formed with openings, of a supporting panel secured to said cover and having openings which reg ister with the openings in said cover, an

electroluminescent tube having terminal portions extending through the openings in said cover and said panel and a display part above said body to provide illumination for the same, the display convey graphically a statement of a fact pertaining to the product represented by said body, receptacles secured to said panel and into which said terminal portions extend, said receptacles carrying power line terminals for connection to said terminal portions and a transformer also mounted on said panel and adapted to extend within said casing and to which said power line terminals are connected.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHANNING WHITMAN.

part being fashionedto 

